15. And when the brothers there heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. When Sha’ul saw them, he thanked Elohim and took courage.
16. And when we came to Rome, the captain delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Sha’ul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier guarding him.
17. And it came to be after three days that Sha’ul called the leaders of the Yehuḏim together. And when they had come together, he said to them, “Men, brothers, though I have done none at all against our people or the practices of our fathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Yerushalayim into the hands of the Romans,
18. who, when they had examined me, intended to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death.
19. “But the Yehuḏim spoke against it, and I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation.
20. “This therefore is the reason I called for you, to see you and speak with you. It is because of the expectation of Yisra’ĕl that I am bound with this chain.”
21. And they said to him, “We neither received letters from Yehuḏah concerning you, nor have any of the brothers who came reported or spoken whatever wicked about you.
22. “And we think it right to hear from you what you think, for indeed, concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”
23. And having appointed him a day, many came to him where he was staying, to whom he was explaining, earnestly witnessing about the reign of Elohim, and persuading them concerning יהושע from both the Torah of Mosheh and the Prophets, from morning until evening.
24. And some indeed were persuaded by what was said, but some believed not.
25. And disagreeing with one another, they began to leave, after Sha’ul had spoken one word, “The Set-apart Spirit rightly spoke through Yeshayahu the prophet to our fathers,
26. saying, ‘Go to this people and say, “Hearing you shall hear but by no means understand, and seeing you shall see but by no means perceive,
27. for the heart of this people has become thickened, and with their ears they heard heavily, and they have closed their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn back, and I should heal them.” ’
28. “Therefore let it be known to you that the deliverance of Elohim has been sent to the gentiles, and they shall hear!”
29. And when he had said these words, the Yehuḏim went away and had a great dispute among themselves.
30. And Sha’ul stayed two entire years in his own rented house, and was receiving all who came to him,